Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-07
UNITED STATES PRIsONEBs.
Annual Report Of Astorney.(cneral
Garland,


transmitted to Congress yesterday, presents q de-
tailed showing OF the business Of the Department,
and contains recommendations OF import ance.
There are LILO ordinary suits pending In the
Court Of Claims involving total OF SIS ESQ 0OO
Under the Bowman act ,S19 cases have been fled
In that court, involving about $50 COO 900. The
petitions fled In French spoliation cases number
$500 representing 23S6 vessels and about &3O.-
900, 600 The amount reported in favor OF claim
ants In the eighty-One OF these cases passed upon
Is about $4o5, 900. During the year there were
12,007 criminal prosecutions mostly for violations
OF customs and 1nternal-revenue lava The At
oorhey General calls attention TO the suggestions
nual report In regard to matters calling for RENE
dial legislation, and again urges the necessity OF
follows: Fees or marshals In the Territories pay OF
deputy marshals, revision OF the fee bill suOst tu-
Sn o. sa i1r calender Cs to civil
criminal procedure perjury and laws and Juries in
the District or Columbia
OF THE CLAIMS AGAINST THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
In the Court OF Claims there were brought to trial
eight suits, claiming s246 12I. H. In five cases,
Claiming $3.50 81, Jufgmen was for defendant.
One case, claiming $1,000. was dismissed by Con-
sent. In three cases, claiming Sis l4l. 40 juig-
cases judgment was recovered IN favor q the Dis Dis
trict on counter claims for $11 1852 16. There are
now pending thirty -four cases. claiming upward
eight prepared for trial. and the balance are In
course OF preparation for submission to the court
UNITED STATES PRISONERS.
On this subject the report states that every At
tention has been given by the Departments agents
to the care and treatment of Government prison.
ers: the penitentiar1es have been examined and
found In god condition. Owing TO the abolition
or the contract system by some OF the States new
arrangements nave had TO be made with several
In some cases United States prisoners have had to
De changed from one prison TO another. In this
q ,o1
ommendatiOn for the erection at least one United
states pententiary, and II possible "A reformatory.
UpJecIion as 10 the matter OF cost Is overcome by
longer make the favorable terms for keeping its
prisoners It has obtained In the past, owing to the
abolition OF contract labor by some OF the
United States penitentiary, the report says:
I'm the Institutions where the larger majority OF
United states prisoners have heretofore been con-
lined, the Government has been at a slight ex-
pense or none at all for the keeping its cOnvictA
put recently the Department has been advised by
these penitentiaries that In view OF the laws OF
their own state ana the act OF Congress, they are
unable to receive United States prisoners upon the
SAME favorable terms as heretofore; and the De-
partment, recognizing this Inability their part
mas entered into new contracts at prices ranging
from INCENTIVE to thirty cents per day for
most every instance, each prisoner convicted In
United states courts throughout the country,
ms subsistence and care while serving out his
THE COST OF CONDUCTING THE GOVERNMENT PENr.
TERTIARY
Will not In my opinion. be greater eyentually than
the cost Of subsistng the prisoners In the various
penitentiaries throughout the country. There
are at all times from 1000 to 1,5Oo p isoners
serving sentences II two penitentIa les were
built, SO located geographically that they would
country, the uiff1culties now lying in the way OF
OelnR a0e 10 properly care for Government con-
v ,, would De oovisted, and the u ted states
COmn0lle0 hA rio
state institutions for the keeping its own crlmi-
nalS Again, II an institution such as referred to
rect and absolute control OF all its convicCs AT
present the control is In an indirect way, although
Is proper TO state that all the ofcers or insltu-
IONS where Government prisoners are confined
readily accede TO the wishes OF the Government
IN adopting any plans or accepting any sugges-
OnerS.
PROPOSED REFoRXAroRY
"a large number OF prisoners convicted In United
States courts are those who have committed but
single ofrense and who have but commenced a
career OF crime. II they could be prevented from
aSsOclating with hardened crtm1nalA and not con-
nned In an institution which in every way sug-
gests C iminal life, many, perhaps, could be Re-
held positions Of trust and responsibility and who
through temptation, have committed some crime
against the laws OF the country. These and the
class referred to above should not be confined in
prison. but the Government should provide suita.
pie rrformatory, where proper influences could be
reformation
fected, as Is done now In several State&
"The bill which was presented TO Congress for the
appointment OF commission to inquire into the
edvisabllty OF building Government penitentlaries
and reiOrmatOry was adversely acted upon
Nevertheless, believe this subject Is OF such i'm
portance that favorable action on 1t should be
taken at once. In addition to all this, 1t would
seem that the United States should have model
prisons and reformatOrteS Of its own In which to
for the employment Of the inmates ut some suita-
bic industries on a system Of labor which would
not violate the recent act or Congress, nor be In
consistent with the laws passed by the several
States and the prevailing opinions relative to the
81 beet OF contract labor.
JAZZ, DISTRICT or COLUMBIA
"During the past year An agent of this Depart
ment carefully examined into the workings and
needs OF the jail In this District which resulted In
many benencial changes. To nearly all the rec
concentrations made, the warden gave his hearty
approval, and he is cooperating with the Depart
ment 20 pr4peIy carry them out It is TO be re-
ton Is not placed directly under some author
ny AS the Acknowledgement is required by law
II this requirement Is to be continued, have entire
control OF the institution. Some provision shouid
at once be made BY Congress for the erection OF an
building for the confinement solely OF
female prisoners. As at present arranged,
the front portion Of the jai, which up to the prss
ent has been entirely unnt for their reception.
Needed improvements are now going on which
only temporary relief, and the absolute need
OF an additional wing or building for the female
prisoners will surely on Investigation commend
Itself 70 Congress-. The grounds ab0uf the 1ail at
present are open TO the public, and IL Is with dii-
Guilty that communication from the outside WtLh
the inmates Is prevented. There Is Q large tract
OF land surrounding the Jail which could lie made
available FOR many purposes, II q wall should be
erected around the enclosure. It could be uti-
LIED for q garden, which would 60 far towards
supplying the jail with vegetables and at the
same time AFFORD an opportunity for the prisoners
once in while to obtain exercise In tue open air.
TO persons confined Tor any length OF time this is
almost a necessity. therefore earnestly recon-
for the building OF Q suitable wall around the On
tire jail enclosure. In this connection, the re-
moval Of the small-p0 hospital which u situated
on the jail grounds Is suggested On at least one
occasion the disease has been communicated TO
the inmates OF the jail by the proximity Of the
pest house Apart from this fact the land Will be
needed and should be included within the jail en-
closure. The salary OF the warden u Inadequate
for the responsibilities and duties required. be.
neve that the compensation OF the warden OF the
jail In this District should be increased from 81 500
70 $500 per annum, and so recommend"
DEPARTMENT BUILDINGS AID GROUNDs
The Attorney General again suggests that q
the grounds adjoining the Department OF Justice
are part OF the original purchase they should be
placed together with the building ITSELF under the
exclusive control Of the Attorney General and
thus avoid a divided jurtsd ction Of the whole
property dedicated by law for the use of the De-
partment OF Justice.
A PROPOSED GOVERNMENT coUKr-HousR At VASE